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The downhill slope for swing prices got a bit steeper Wednesday. Most points recorded losses between 10 and 20 cents, although a few in the San Juan/Rockies market saw smaller declines as high temperatures continued to hit the century mark in much of the interior West.

Natural gas futures dropped lower Thursday morning as bears were rousted for the second week in a row by a larger-than-expected storage injection (57 Bcf). After falling a dime in the five minutes following the storage report, the market stabilized for the rest of the session. June futures closed at $5.267, down 11.8 cents for the day.

Upper Midwest combination utility NorthWestern Corp. revealed Tuesday that it will take about $880 million in special charges in 2002, which is $180 million more than previously announced. It expects to post a $900 million net loss for the year compared with net earnings of $37.5 million in 2001.

Upper Midwest combination utility NorthWestern Corp. revealed Tuesday that it will take about $880 million in special charges in 2002, which is $180 million more than previously announced. It expects to post a $900 million net loss for the year compared with net earnings of $37.5 million in 2001.

ConocoPhillips is negotiating to increase its share of Duke Energy Field Services to 50%, DEFS Chairman Jim Mogg said during an investors’ conference call Friday.

ConocoPhillips is negotiating to increase its share of Duke Energy Field Services to 50%, DEFS Chairman Jim Mogg said during an investors’ conference call Friday.

After spiking to a new high for the week in the moments following the release of a larger-than-anticipated 85 Bcf storage withdrawal, the natural gas futures market went lower in the late morning and afternoon Thursday as sellers liquidated positions ahead of an expected weekend weather warm-up. April crested at $5.62 at 11:15, up 34 cents from Wednesday’s settle, but then tumbled back down to $5.17 by the middle of the afternoon. It closed at $5.306, up 2.8 cents for the session.

Constraints on supplies of natural gas, crude oil and coal are unlikely to occur worldwide before 2025, but in the next 20 years, the energy industry will be challenged to design sustainable technology that can replace depleted fossil fuels, the chairman of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group told a Houston audience.

Constraints on supplies of natural gas, crude oil and coal are unlikely to occur worldwide before 2025, but in the next 20 years, the energy industry will be challenged to design sustainable technology that can replace depleted fossil fuels, the chairman of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group told a Houston audience.